Carabao Cup: Can Leicester add to Liverpool’s woes and will Dominic Solanke get the better of Harry Maguire?
Jurgen Klopp's Reds side face Craig Shakespeare's Foxes at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday evening
Sponsored by
LIVERPOOL will be hoping to put their disappointing 1-1 draw with Burnley from the weekend behind them when they travel to the King Power Stadium to take one Leicester City in the Carabao Cup third round.
The Foxes picked up a point against Premier League newcomers Huddersfield Town in their weekend Premier League fixture, with Jamie Vardy netting a penalty to ensure Craig Shakespeare’s men didn’t return to the East Midlands empty-handed.
The game takes place at 7.45pm on Tuesday evening at the King Power Stadium and will be shown live on Sky Sports.
Our friends at Football Whispers have broken down the key battles and where the game will be won and lost.
Key Battle: Maguire vs Solanke
This League Cup encounter could throw up a battle between two of England’s brightest up-and-coming talents. Dominic Solanke joined Liverpool this summer after leading the Three Lions to FIFA U20 World Cup glory in order to gain more first-team exposure than he was getting at Chelsea, and he will be hopeful of starting against Leicester.
That would bring the young striker up against 24-year-old centre-back Harry Maguire, a £17million summer signing Hull City.
The powerful defender has impressed since joining Leicester, recently earning a first senior England call-up.
LATEST LIVERPOOL NEWS
Potential Match-winners: Iheanacho & Woodburn
A £25million purchase from Manchester City this summer, 20-year-old Nigerian international striker Kelechi Iheanacho is still looking for his first Leicester goal after three appearances.
But the young poacher has only featured in 89 Premier League minutes so far this season and will be looking to impress against the Reds to earn a regular starting berth at the King Power Stadium.
Regarded as one of the most gifted prospects to emerge from Liverpool’s academy in some time, 17-year-old Ben Woodburn has already made nine senior appearances for the Reds. A first international call-up for Wales earlier this month was marked by a spectacular, long-range goal, leading to comparisons with Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale.
Capable of playing on either wing, the youngster played in midfield for Liverpool during pre-season and could again feature in a deeper role against Leicester.
Tactics
Both sides will ring the changes for this League cup encounter, but expect the two managers to stick with their tried and trusted formations.
For Leicester, that means 4-4-2, the same shape that won them an unlikely Premier League title in 2015/16 and has given them a balance and potency that makes them a dangerous proposition for any side.
The Foxes have averaged just a 41 per cent share of possession in the Premier League so far this season, but they’ll be fine with that as their game plan is to defend from their low block and break quickly and effectively. They are likely to be without the pace of Jamie Vardy against the Reds but Shakespeare’s side will have no shortage of speed in attack.
Jurgen Klopp will send his men out in their customary 4-3-3 shape and the visitors will likely dominate the ball. Although a few star names may be rested, the Merseysiders can still field a side packed with attacking intent.
LATEST LEICESTER NEWS
Line-ups
Leicester will make some key changes from their regular Premier League line-up for the visit of Liverpool, resting some of the player’s they’ll be relying upon later in the campaign.
But Shakespeare will name a strong XI as he’ll feel the Reds, with changes of their own, will be there for the taking.
Klopp is expected to give run-outs to young hopefuls Woodburn, Solanke and Marko Grujic, while promising defender Joe Gomez is set to rotate in for Trent Alexander-Arnold after the latter started against Burnley at the weekend.
Key Stats
Only Tottenham Hotspur (21) average more shots per game than Liverpool (19.4) in the Premier League so far this season. And, despite accusations of a dodgy defence, only Manchester City (7.2) allow fewer shots per game from their opponents than the Reds (7.8).
Only Newcastle United (68.9 per cent) have a lower average pass completion for the season so far than Leicester (72.2 per cent), while the Foxes have the lowest average possession (41 per cent) of all 20 Premier League clubs.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MOST PROFITABLE TRANSFERS IN HISTORY
EXCLUSIVE OFFER: BET £5 GET A FREE £10 BET
